A centuries-old Majar was vandalized in Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh, where attackers broke parts of the structure and threw feces and urine inside, triggering anger among devotees and local residents. The incident took place at the Majar of Shahjahan Uddin (R.) Aulia in Tengapara village sometime on Thursday night, police said.
Locals said devotees visiting the Majar early Friday morning discovered that the boundary wall of the main structure had been damaged. Human excrement and dung were found scattered in several places inside the Majar. Union Parishad member Md. Jewel Mia said he visited the site after being informed and saw that parts of the Majar had been broken, adding that it was not possible to identify the perpetrators as the incident occurred under cover of darkness.
Majar caretaker Md. Saidur Rahman, 70, said he has served at the site for about 40 years and has never witnessed such an incident before. He said he learned from his ancestors that the Majar was established during the reign of a Mughal emperor and that thousands of devotees visit it every year. Local resident Faruk Ahmed said devotees come to the Majar daily and described the vandalism as deeply disturbing.
After news of the incident spread, hundreds of devotees and ascetics gathered at the Majar, expressing anger and demanding that those responsible be identified and punished. Gouripur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Kamrul Hasan said police visited the scene and confirmed that parts of the Majar were vandalized and that feces and urine were thrown inside using polythene bags. He added that no Urs has been held at the Majar for the past eight to ten years.
Police said no formal complaint had been filed as of Friday evening, and investigations are ongoing.
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